Abstract

This qualitative, exploratory study examined: 1) What LGBT older adults know about the availability of local OAA-funded services 2) Their attitudes towards these services 3) Any experiences when utilizing or attempting to utilize these services 4) How current needs (e.g., transportation, meals, household chores) are being met 5) Expectations and plans for care as they age. Using a semi-structured interview guide, focus groups of older LGBT adults in Central New Jersey were conducted from June-August 2017. The sample size was 31 participants. Five focus groups were conducted, which generated data regarding participants’ views on aging and service use. Analysis relied on Straussian Grounded Theory and yielded four major themes: 1) low expectations of a welcoming environment, 2) the importance of being out, 3) potential need for LGBT-specific services, and 4) how to create inclusive services. ^